Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #2070 in DVD
• Released on: 1998-12-21
• Rating: Suitable for 15 years and over
• Aspect ratio: 1.85:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Formats: Dubbed, Letterboxed, PAL, Widescreen
• Original language: English
• Subtitled in: English, German, Hindi, Turkish, Icelandic
• Number of discs: 1
• Running time: 200 minutes

Amazon.co.uk Review
Wolfgang Petersen's harrowing and claustrophobic U-boat thriller Das Boot was released as both a theatrical film and a six-hour mini-series, and remains the most expensive production ever made by a German studio. The expanded "Director's Cut" of the movie was re-released 1997 and it is this version that is available for home viewing. This epic story became an instant classic on its first release, provoking critical and audience acclaim worldwide for its sympathetic and entirely truthful portrayal of a German U-boat crew. Faithfully adapted from the bestselling novel by Lothar-Günther Buchheim, Petersen and his committed cast (led by the amazing Jürgen Prochnow) were concerned to ensure that every detail was rendered with painstaking accuracy--both physical and psychological--and the result is not only the best submarine drama ever made but also arguably the finest cinematic portrait of men at war and the terrible madness they must endure.

On the DVD: The 200-minute "Director's Cut" version of the movie not only has several major scenes restored that were not in the theatrical release but also has been digitally remastered with significantly improved sound (new sound effects have been added) and anamorphic picture. (The six-hour TV version has yet to be released.) Here, the viewer can watch the movie in the original German, with or without subtitles, or in an English dubbed version that uses the voices of many of the original cast. On the utterly engrossing commentary track, director Wolfgang Petersen and star Jürgen Prochnow talk animatedly and in great detail about every aspect of making this epic story--from model shots using Barbie dolls to meeting the Captain of the original U-boat. This is one of the most consistently rewarding commentaries on disc. Also included is a five-minute featurette that promotes this new version. --Mark Walker

Special Features
1.85 Wide Screen
16:9 Wide Screen
DVD 9
German
English
Region 2
Dolby Digital 5.1 English German\Dolby Digital Surround English
Dolby Digital 5.1
Dolby Digital Surround
Theatrical Trailer
Featurette
Directors Commentary
English\German\Hebrew\Hindi\Icelandic\Turkish

Synopsis
In the midst of World War II, a German U-boat crew is sent out to patrol the Atlantic and fire at Allied ships bringing supplies to England. The submarine also carries a press correspondent, there to report from the front lines of nautical warfare. Meanwhile, the crew's captain (Jurgen Prochnow – IN THE MOUTH OF MADNESS, BEVERLY HILLS COP II) is becoming disillusioned with the Nazi regime and with war in general. What starts out as a routine mission is soon livened up beyond the crew's expectations when their boat's surprise attack on a convoy is thwarted by a fast-moving destroyer. Battered by depth charges, the crew must pull together to survive the attacks of their unseen enemy.
Widely considered to be director Wolfgang Petersen's best film and one of the finest German films ever made, DAS BOOT is stunningly realistic in its portrayal of the cramped conditions aboard a German submarine. Based on a novel by Lothar G. Buchheim, it is a striking example of an intelligent antiwar film clothed in the guise of a military thriller.

Customer Reviews

A 'CLASSIC' DVD?
'Das Boot', Wolfgang Petersen's stunning evocation of the tensions and miseries suffered by a German U-Boat crew during the 'Battle Of The Atlantic' in WWII, is rightly regarded as one of the most important German films of the last 25 years. It is significant that the film's influence has reached a worldwide audience since its premier in 1981; for it is a story about the absurdity of war, and that particular truth transcends all national boundaries. It is simply one of best war films ever made.

The production of 'Das Boot' on DVD is a fascinating tale in itself. The Director's commentary, in which Jurgen Procknow (who played the Captain) particpates, presents an interesting, and often amusing, insight into the production of a film that really launched the careers of many of those that were invloved. Of particular note is the filmakers' impromptu discussion on the reaction the film received in Germany when it was first shown. There were at the time certain conventions that needed to be observed in German cinema when dealing with the subject of WWII. 'Das Boot' did to some extent challenge these and this led to quite a disparity between the German public's reaction and those of the critics.

Technically the DVD production is superb. It seems that Wolfgang Petersen is certainly an enthuiast for the new digital medium. He and his team have re-cut the film, using the original negative as the source, to produce a 'film' version that Petersen appears to be very content with. The result is a 3-hour experience of superb visual quality. However, it does not end there. The entire sound track has been re-engineered for Dolby Digital 5.1 - and an English dubbed Dolby Surround mix is included as well. Only the original dialogue track and some music stems were retained. The effects, the music, and even the English language dub tracks have been re-recorded digitally for the DVD version. In many cases the dubbing was undertaken by the original cast. The sound mix and production are superb. The effect is to add a whole new dimension to the experience of 'Das Boot'.

The conclusion is that 'Das Boot' on DVD is a compelling advert for the medium itself, and really does highlight the medium's potentialities in both the technical and artistic areas.

If there is such a thing as a DVD 'Classic' yet then 'Das Boot' is a good candidate for the appellation.

unbeatable war film
This is a stunning film - a war film made by Germans about Germans. The characters are so absorbing that you really feel for them. Amazing to think that you could be rooting for the "scourge of the Atlantic", but I found that I was. I was willing the Royal Navy to sail on past and fail in their attempts to depth charge U-96 to oblivion.
The actors play the roles superbly. We see the crew run through the full gambit of emotions; from their light hearted frolicking on their last "run ashore" where they get paralytically drunk, to the boredom of routine on board a cramped and smelly submarine, to the thill of the kill and the deep terror of being in a damaged vessel that is being depth charged.
The wide eyed, fresh young Nazi on board does not understand the attitudes of the crew, their patiotic but not Nazi views, their somewhat slovenly ways. But he is forced to re-evaluate his own beliefs after a few weeks of boredom, stress, limited hygene facilities, deteriorating food, "hot-bunking", close & claustophobic life, when boils have started to appear on the unshaven faces of the grimey, sweaty crew. Mixed with the fear of death and a strange fatalism, this is not the glorious fighting machine he was expecting.
The star of the film is definitely Jurgen Pruchnow who plays the calm and very capable Captain, utterly determined to carry out his mission, yet not sympathetic to Nazism. You feel that no one else could have got the boat back to La Rochelle.
The film can be watched in German with or without English subtitles or in dubbed English. The dubbed English is very well done, using some of the actors own voice overs, but I prefer to watch it in German with subtitles as this seems to enhance the atmosphere.

There are no glorious heroes, no moral righteousness and definitely no winners. This is a gritty view on a horrible bit of history.

Simply Stunning
"It's not about Germans or Americans or British, it's just about people" - Director Wolfgang Peterson. Das Boot is not a war film. It is a study of men under pressure who really believe they're going to die. It just happens to take place during WWII. The ground-breaking cinematography and excellent performances from all the lead actors make this a stunning film. The re-recorded Dolby 5.1 soundtrack is the best (by a long way) I've ever heard on DVD. Watch this film in the dark, on a large TV with surround speakers - it's quite magnificent. The whole package is so good that it stands many repeat viewings without losing any of its impact. We all know that 99% of Commentaries are absolutely dire and only listened to once, but the Commentary on Das Boot is exceptional. Das Boot is a film masterpiece and a fine advert for the DVD medium which should be in every serious film buff's collection.